Franklin DeVos

Franklin "Frank" Alwyn DeVos, was born on March 28, 1925 and was taken home to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on March 22, 2013, to live forever where flowers always bloom and never fade. Frank was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Esther (Ibershof) DeVos; by an infant son who died in 1956; and by a 4 1/2 year old son, Jackie, who died in 1962. Frank is survived by his son, David (Paula) DeVos; and by his two daughters, Nancy (Scott) Stehouwer and Julie (Daniel) VanderWoude. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren, Becca (Andy) Vande-Griend, Aaron (Afton) DeVos, Ben (Sarah) Stehouwer, Emily (Frank) Smith, Jonathan Stehouwer, Anna Stehouwer, Aubrey VanderWoude, and Jereme VanderWoude. So precious to Frank (Papa Flower) were his great-grandchildren, Joshua, Ellie, and Hannah VandeGriend, Zachary DeVos, and Charlie Stehouwer. Frank is also survived by his sister, Margaret DeMaagd; and by his sister-in-law, Dorothy Ibershof. Preceding Frank in death were his parents, Francis and Ada DeVos; his brother, Adrian DeVos; and his sister, Pearl Haveman. In 1943 Frank graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School. He spent the next three years in the Army where he served in the European Theater during and after WWII. In 1950 Frank graduated from Calvin College, and during that same year he started his business, Eastern Floral and Gift Shop. In 1968 he moved his ever-expanding business to the building he designed on the corner of 28th Street and the East Beltline where he continued to provide for his many employees to the time he sold his business in 1998. Frank thoroughly enjoyed his family, his business, and his church. He particularly enjoyed traveling around the globe with the love of his life, Esther. A man of many interests, Frank's hobbies included photography and trick water skiing. His special gift was offering others a glimpse of God's handiwork through floral arrangements, slide show travelogues, and especially gardening. His gardens and his gardening were frequently featured in a variety of publications including the Grand Rapids Press. For Frank, gardening was a ministry showing God's handiwork in interesting and creative ways. In October of 2010 he was proud to be inducted into the Michigan Florist Foundation Hall of Fame. Frank served the Lord in many ways. As a businessman, he was a model of stewardship. As a designer, he was a marvelous creator of beauty. As a florist, he was there to comfort grieving families. As a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Frank exemplified the humility, the strength, the grace, and the compassion of his Lord and Savior. Frank served his church in a number of ways as a deacon, an elder, and a long-time Sunday School Superintendent. He and Esther were charter members of their church, Shawnee Park Christian Reformed Church. Frank was a man of service, strength, and compassion. Frank loved God and the beauty of God's creation. He will be remembered as a man with a generous heart for his family as well as for numerous charitable and philanthropic causes. He was respected and held in high esteem for his integrity, for his strength of character, for his work ethic, and most of all for his love and devotion to his Lord and to the Kingdom of God. The family wishes to thank Ruth Bolt for her kind and compassionate care. Visitation will be held on Monday, March 25 and Tuesday, March 26 from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at the Zaagman Memorial Chapel, 2800 Burton SE. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at Shawnee Park Christian Reformed Church at 11:00 am. Private family interment will be at Rest Lawn Memorial Park. Those who wish may send remembrances to Shawnee Park CRC Evangelism Fund, Grand Rapids Christian School Association, or the Holland Home.